PHS Staff

Linda PawsonLinda Pawson, Executive Director

Linda joins PHS as its first Executive Director, a position made possible with funding from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust. She brings a wealth of experience in nonprofit leadership, business consulting, and museum management. With an MBA from the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business and a career spanning Microsoft to local museums, she is well-equipped to lead PHS into its next chapter.

A North Kitsap native, Linda grew up in Keyport and graduated from NKHS in 1980. She returned to Kitsap in 2019 and is passionate about preserving and sharing the region’s rich history. An artist, kayaker, and scuba diver, she appreciates the deep connections between Poulsbo’s past and present. Under her leadership, PHS will expand its community outreach, enhance museum programming, and build a sustainable future for local history.

View full press release by clicking here.

Jessica Wall, Education Outreach Coordinator

Jessica’s background and education in anthropology and cultural sustainability led her to become involved in PHS. Using her creativity, along with her interest in local history and preservation, Jessica has provided local families and visitors with unique hands-on experiences and programs to learn about Poulsbo and its’ past. Along with her PHS duties, she volunteers with the North Kitsap School District and stalks orcas in Puget Sound.

Kathy Holodnak, Gift Shop Coordinator

As a local retail store owner for 33 years, Kathy has a sharp eye for merchandise to enhance the visitor experience in the Maritime Museum gift shop. Kathy also works for Historic Downtown Poulsbo Association (HDPA) and was drawn volunteering at the Maritime Museum through her HDPA work. A 27-year resident of Poulsbo, Kathy makes amazing birdhouses, reads and gardens in her free time.

Board of Directors

Patty Henderson
Board President
Patty grew up in Scandia and has deep roots in the Scandia/Pearson area.  She graduated North Kitsap High School and was the soda jerk at Glen’s Poulsbo Drug for several years in the 60’s serving the downtown businessmen and women coffee, sodas and banana splits. She then worked for United Air Lines in Seattle.  She and her husband Tom later worked together in their yacht interior design business for nearly 30 years with offices at the Liberty Bay Marina for 21 years.

She and Tom have been long time members of the Poulsbo Yacht Club and held leadership positions, Tom as Commodore and Patty as a Board member and Secretary for many years.  Patty helped organize and has been dedicated to the PYC Junior Sailing Program for 23 years helping introduce young people to the skills and joys of sailing on Liberty Bay.

Patty is very proud to follow in tom’s footsteps to become President of the PHS.  They are both vested in helping to share the history of Poulsbo and the surrounding areas with current and future generations.  They have been very involved in helping PHS to acquire, design, and upgrade the facilities to make sharing the history possible.

Stephen Swann

Shannon Turner
Board Vice President

Shannon Turner is the Community Development Administrator at Peninsula Community Health Services.  He has served as a Washington Executive Legislative Assistant and worked construction management. He was student body president at Olympic College and is now active in the NAACP Bremerton Chapter.

Jim Shields
Immediate Past President
Capital Campaign Chair
Jim is a native of Poulsbo and has strong ties to its history through his family’s business, Pacific Coast Cod Fish Company. After retiring as Poulsbo Fire Chief, Jim joined PHS and is a Past President and Chair of the PHS Capital Campaign.  Jim and his brother, David (see below) have contributed hundreds of hours to PHS, specifically assisting with establishing the Maritime Museum. Besides Poulsbo boats, Jim enjoys motorcycles, travel, fishing and hunting.
Liesl Lewis
Board Treasurer

Raised in Poulsbo, Liesl has strong family ties to the Poulsbo Historical Society.   Her grandfather was Captain Ed Shields who sailed the Pacific Cod Fish Company schooners to Alaska in search of cod for salting. She graduated from Washington State University in 1990 with a degree in Chemical Engineering, and went on to have a long career with the Dow Chemical Company in California, retiring in 2021. In 2013 she was able to move back to Poulsbo with her husband and children. Always supporting the Poulsbo Historical Society, she agreed to serve on the board, and as Treasurer since January of 2021.

Damien Wall
Damien Wall
Board Secretary
Damien Wall is a career submariner, holding the rank of Lieutenant Commander.  Currently he is the Navigator (department head) at Trident Training Facility Bangor, where he also teaches courses.  His undergraduate degree is in civil engineering from the University of Idaho.  His graduate degree in systems engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School.  Husband to Jessica and dad to Abigail and Logan, Damien enjoys travel, golf, photography, gardening, and riding his one wheel.
Lora Benson
Board Member
Lora’s interest in Poulsbo’s “captivating” history and culture led her to join the PHS Board.

A resident of Poulsbo for 25 years, Lora works as a real estate agent with Windermere. She and her husband raised their three children in Poulsbo. Lora is excited to share Poulsbo’s story with multiple generations of locals and visitors. In her free time, Lora enjoys cooking, gardening, walking, reading and spending time with her family.

Nancy Coffee
Board Member
Nancy Coffee, a retired Navy Chief hospital corpsman, holds a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Brandman University.  She is presently a contract specialist working for Naval Engineering Systems Command.  She and her husband Brian moved to Washington with the Navy in 2007 and loved it so much they decided to stay after they both retired.  She and their daughter Avery have a horse and enjoy learning dressage riding.
Jeff Griffin
Board Member
Jeff Griffin recently retired as Fire Chief of Poulsbo Fire Department after serving 37 years in the fire service. Jeff has a degree in Fire Command and Administration and is a graduate of the 4 year National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer program. An active community member, Jeff has served on the board of directors of Friends of Youth and served as Board member and President of the Springboard Alliance. He is currently serving as a board member of Fishline and is an active Rotarian. Jeff’s latest thrilling adventure is aboard the Lurline in the Sandwich Islands!
Darryl Milton

Darryl Milton
Board Member

Having lived in Poulsbo my whole life, my contribution has been in belonging to Fire Department for 57 years, 33 as a first responder and last 24 years as a Fire Commissioner. My biggest pet peeve is people saying how Poulsbo used to be, when they have really only been here a very short time. A good example would be how many remember when there was no parking lot on water side of downtown or to get to Seattle we took a ferry from Suquamish.

Stephen Swann
Stephen Swann
Board Member
Stephen Swann is a graduate of the US Coast Guard Academy and Vanderbilt University Law School.  He completed two successful careers, retiring from the Coast Guard with the rank of Commander, then practicing law in Arlington VA.  He founded the Poulsbo Community Orchestra and Viking Brass Ensemble and is a member of the Poulsbo Lions Club. He has served as a Port of Poulsbo Commissioner and  the City’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee.